Game-register.



D. L, MARTIN & BIL. FLOWERS. GAME REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1913.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

awe/M 16 1). L. MARTIN & E. L. FLOWERS.

GAME REGISTER. APPLIOATION I'ILEDFBB. 6, 1913.

1,073,262, v Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

t 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

!' B I m 47 If r y a1; Ala/rim 1 Elli 70112015; I

COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH to WASHINGTON. D. c.

Sbifi'sfidii-df Letters Patent. Application filed-February 6,-19-1-3. serial-No 74mm;

Patenti eflf see-t. 116, i913.

Taa'llwflmmitmagy001mm: 7

Be it known that; We; 19mm L. Magnum and EDGAR L; FEOWE'RS; citizens of the United States, residing at Hickory; in: the eeunty of Getstw bag State of North Game time, have invented o'er-thin new endti'seftll Improvements in Gemefiegis'tefe; We 61b hereby deditire the "fijllowi-ng twhe full, clealya-nd emet deseri ption of the 'i 'nvel'v tiUn,- stich as will 611221316=others-slilied in the m tto which it ma'p'ertains to l hiihe and iiseth'e same This iiiv'ent idn relatesto im rovements c'qnstructio'n is' positive "in o'p'eration, a n'd is chegtp'to manufaeture.

With these anctothei ohjiects' in View, the

invent-1011' consists in the" construction zmd never omhiimtion of parts hereinafter 'fiilly described; illust-rateci in' the accompanying flir'ztwings and poir'itedjout in the claims heref0 appendect; it being understbodthat var} o'us changes in theform, pr'opdrtioh; size mid m'inor details of construction Withihth e' scepeof theclai'ms iiizry'be resorted thfw'yith out depaft'ing'fr0m the spirit or sacrificing}. any of the advantages of'the 'inyentien;

Inthe drawings: Figure 1 is a' froht e1evatien of egmfieffegister constructed ih-ae' cerdhncewith' our invention, Fig. 2"is a rear elevation of the casing," Fi 8"is a Yelticfll sectional viewtktlienenthe line 33'-of*F-ig. 2, Fig. 4 is an enlarged d6t21'i'1hOriZOI1 talSeC' tiqnal 5 ViW' taken on the line of Fig. 1, Fig; 5 iS' a'jIPQII 1ELTgEK'i citail sectitiiml View" showing the gate in its n'o'rme1 or Closing-t position; Fig. Gisa'sirhiiit-r view-hut showingthe gate iirits'opelfpositihh, Fig; 7 is' an "eh'iztrged dethilperspective View shoWi-fig:

theiocking means 'eniployed for (meet the gates anctthe actuating" means th erefoiy Fig. 58 is a detail seetio'nstl View threugh the {spying actuated bfztkegtFig. 9 is-a plan view iqnf o'ne-of the rgzrtegeF-ig. 10'is a; trans ent 21 tlonshowing the modified' form of 0111" iniventiom Fig. 11 is 2m enlarged horizontal isectiena-l view taken on the line l1 =11 of Fig. 10, Fig; 12 is: cross sectional View :taicen 011* theline l2 l 2 of Fig." llflmhFig. 13 is an enlarged detail perspective View showing the manner of mounting: one of i the Like reference numerals designate correi sponelingi parts in all the figures of the :dmW-i'ngs;

J Referring. to the dritwings',- A designates 19001 lie-1:1 rack- Wh'icifi includes-e bitck [board 4 which is adapted t0" be secured to :a wa ll or any other" suitable su ert,m1d connected: a-t' one sided thisboa rd by" means i of' hihges- 5' is a forwardly swiiigin-g-'c'asihg which is designated as a Whole by the referience numeral "6; This casing 'i'n'cluci'es a :frofit wall: sidewalls 8 8" a'hd top and lhottoni Walls '9 zindlfl'respeet ively. A lock, 1 which is desig' eted V as 21 whole by the refergencefnumerei '11 and which may be oii' my tprefer led c'on'stlufiffitjilg. is associated with I; this;casing; I

Seemed to the outer 'fa'ce of t he frdht Wall end on opposite sides; of the j ceritef liiietiiere of is a set of guide strips of sefipentine formation; the sti ifis 1 2 of one set being d'ispose'd opposite the strips 1 1e ofthe other' se Thestrips 12, whichas ztbove stated are spaced apart;- fb'fm re- ;siii tarrt lufiw'ays" 12 the strips 13 form resu'ltent mnweys-is se iti rliiiwiiys being end's thereof are spaced apart to form; a,

"resultant centrally diSpOsed-Vtticail discharge channel 14} saiti chanfiel of course colitrhuiiiea ting with the' runways 12 and l l' The lower end pbi tibns of the'htft'er sti'ips l and 13 eXterid downwardl ss at;

15 15'; A and are s aced eip'art t0'f0rm ac011- :timmtien 0f the 1m'nn'e1 14, these stripsextending to the" lohttoiii of the" from Wall 7. SIitMbIy' supported in suiteble' uides 16*16 which afecarriechbythe hetto'm l Oof the casing is a receptacle 17 of any suitable construction, the receptacle being disposed directly below the conduit 14 for receiving the pool balls as they are discharged therefrom. The opposed faces of adjacent strips are grooved, and the upper ends thereof are enlarged, as at 18, to form a mouth or entrance for the balls.

Our invention further comprises anovel means for locking the balls within the runways above the discharge channel 14. This mechanism consists of a plurality of horizontal openings 19 which are formed in the front walls 7 and respectively register with the various runways 12 and 13. 20 formed from a rectangular piece of flat metal is slidablymounted within each opening 19. The rear portion of each gate is formed with an opening 21 which is adapted when the gate is drawn outwardly to register with the respective runway and permit the balls to pass therethrougln An in wardly extending T-shaped slot 22 communicates with the rear edge of each gate.

in order to lock the gate against movement, there is provided a supporting bar 7 23 which is disposed in parallel relation to the front wall 7, and is connected to the end walls 88 of the casing. This bar is disposed in the same plane as the openings 19, and extending forwardly from said bar in alinementwith the openings is a plurality of guides 24. The forward ends of these guides extend below the T-shaped slot 22 of the plates 20, and are each formed with a vertical bearing 25 which registers with a respective slot 22. Looking pins 26 are each mounted within a respective slot 22 and "bearing 25 for vertical sliding movements.

Each pin is preferably formed of metal, and is of rectangular formation and is formed with a plurality of opposed notches 27-27 which are adapted when the pin is elevated to register with the T-shaped slot- 22 of a respectivegate 20, and thereby permit of said gate being drawn forwardly. When, however, the pin is in its normal position,

the notches 27 will be disposed below the gate, and as a result, said pin will have mterlockmg engagement with the gate and thereby retain the same against movement.

These gates are adapted to be withdrawn in progression for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully explained. It will thus beobserved that in order to accomplish this movement, it is necessary to progresssively actuate the locking pins 26. Therefore, in order to accomplish this movement, a

horizontally disposed shaft 28 is j ournaled in suitable brackets 2929 mounted on the reariface of the front wall 7, one end 28 of said shaft being reduced and extending through one of the side walls 8 of the casing. This shaft is disposed above the locking .pins 26, and is connected to each pin by A gate means of a flexible connection 30, said connections being respectively connected to the shaft in progression at spaced points angularly around said shaft. liixed on the reduced end 28 of the 'shaft'exterior'of the end wall 8 of the casing is a hand wheel3l and formed in the periphery thereof is a plurality of recesses 32, there being one more recess than there are looking pins.- These 1 recesses are spaced equal distances apart. Secured to the end wall 8 dlrectly above the wheel 31 1s a brake, which s designated as a whole by the reference.numeral 33. This brake includes a vertically disposed cylinder 34 having an open lower end and a closed upper end 35, said upper end being centrally formed with anopening 36 wherethrough projects a stem 37, which carries a plunger 38 at its lower end, said plunger be ing normally urged to engage a respective opening 32 of the wheel 31 by means of a coil spring 34 which is disposed around said stem between the closed end 35 and the plunger 38. A finger-piece 39-is formed on the upper end of the stem and serves as a means forretracting theplunger 38 when it is desired to release the'wheel 31. When the shaft 28 has been once rotated all of said locking pins will have been lifted in pro-' gression, and this shaft will be prevented from further rotation by means of a stop 40 which projects from the periphery of the wheel 31 and is adapted to engage the plunger 38. In order to automatically return the shaft 28 and consequently the locking pins 26 to their normal lowered positions, a coil spring 41 is connected at one end, as

at 42, to the front wall 7 and has its other 7 end connected, as at 43, to one end of a flexible connection 44-, the other end of said connection being secured to the shaft 28. It will thus be observed that when said shaft is rotated in one direction, the coil springs 41 will be stretched. As the shaft'is successively rotated to bring the respective locking pins 26 into register with the respective ates, the shaftwi'llbe held against rotation by means of the plunger 38 engaging in a respective recess 32 of thewheel 31.

Whenever it is desired to return the parts to their normal positions, the plunger 38 is raised, .by' means of" the finger-piece 39 against the tension of the spring 34*, and. as a result, the coil spring 31 will cause the shaft 28 to return to its normal position.

Simultaneously with this movement the locking pins 26 will by their own weight slide down through the guide elements 24 and return to their normal positions.

Our invention further comprises a regis ter, which 1s of any preferred construction and is designated as a whole by the refer-- ence letter B. This register is attached to the front wall 7 of the casing and is preferably. disposed betweenthe respective sets of rec posed centrally ofeach strips 12 and 13.- This register includes an actuating lever which is normally held against movement b I a. coil spring 46. A plurality of cords 4: are each connected at one end'to the lever 4'5 and at its other end to an eye 48 mounted on the rear of a respective gate 20, said cords passing through suitable guides 49 carried b 1 the supporting bar 23. It will thus be observed that when.

any one of the gates 20 ispull'ed out the respective cord 4;? will be actuated, and as a result, the lever 45' ofthe register B will be moved against the tension V 46 and as a result actuate the register.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that in, order to withdraw the balls from any or all of the runways,

gates is opened or drawn out the nated; as a whole by the reference letter O and may be of any preferred construction,

there being as. many of these registers as there are runways. These registers are mounted upon the front and are preferably disposed above the upper ends of'the runways, actuated by means of a vertically disposed push rod 50 which is slidably mounted with- 111 a groove 51 formed in the rear face of the front wall 7.. Each rod has its lower end bent outwardly and thence downwardly, and has its extremity bent transverselyof the gate 20 to form afoot 53, said foot being disposed between the locking pin 26 and the front wall 7. An actuating element for each push rod 50 and is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 54 Each element consists of a rock shaft 55. which is longitudinally disgate 20' and is supported on its underface by means of bearings 5656. The forward end ofthis shaft is provided with a finger-piece 57, and the shaft is centrally formed: with a semi-circular offset 58 which is adapted to normally liearound the opening 21 of said plate, and thereby permit of the balls to pass through said opening. The inner end of each shaft terminates in a rocker arm 59, said arm terminating in a rearwardl" extending foot 60. When the gate 20 is drawn outward the player swings the shaft 55 by means proper finger-plece 57, andas a result, the

of the that. these runways of the spring it is necessaryto open, the gates 20 success1vely and that as each of B will-be actuated. As a result, of

- the gates 20.

This mechanism i'ncludes scribed and by means ll 7 f h i v number of persons who have Each register is ed from them can is carried by each gate 20' player pulls out his spaced guide strips 6l61.

foot 60 of the. rocker arm 59 engages the foot 53 of the respective push rod 50' and raises said rod thereby actuating the register C.

In operation, let it be presumed that there are, SIX runways and six persons playing.

Each player places the balls he makes within a respective runway. It will be observed are of serpentine formatie-n, and as a: result, downward descent of the balls will be greatly checked so that when they reach the gates 2.0 there will be but very little noise made. are, as above explained, normally disposed in the path of said runways and as a result, prevent the balls from passing into the dis-' charge channel M. After all of the balls have been placed in the runways, a player can easily View said balls and thereby read- 11y determine the number or he has made. The operator then rotates the wheel 31 until the notches 32 are brought successively into engagement with the spring actuated plunger38 when the notches 2701 the locking pins 26 will be successively brought into register with the; slots 22 of The gates 20' may thus be successively and progressively withdrawn so as to register the openings 20 thereof with the respective runways, and as a result, per

mit the balls to pass therethrough and thence into the receptacle 1? as will be readily understood. As each gate 20 is drawn out the register B is actuated as above deof this register the played will be indicated thereon. Thus, for instance, if this register has been in operation for several evenings and the register B indicates 65, this number will show persons have played during and as a result, the

that sixty-live those evenings, amount of money collectbe quickly ascertained, it being understood that each person pays a similar price for each game. The losing players then actuate their respective register. 0, and as a result these registers will respectively indicate the number of games lost by the different players.

At the completion of each game, each slide 20, so that the register-B will be actuated to register the fact that he has played. As a general rule the loser pays for the game, therefore, after each player has registered in the game, the loser actuates his register (I in addition to the register B.

In the modified form of our invention, as illustrated in 10 to 13 inclusive, the rack A is identical in construction with the casing previously described. Attached to the front wall 7 is a plurality of pairs of These strips are disposed in. spaced relation and are diagonally arranged across the wall 7 to form The gates 20 7 amount which downwardly inclined runways 62. Gates- 63 each project through vertical slots formed in the front wall 7 adjacent the lower end of the respective runway. The runways 62 all communicate at the lower end with a main discharge channel 64 which is serpentine in formation and is formed the casing. In this form the other parts of the invention are identical in construction as above outlined, the only difference being in the manner of arranging them to meet the change in position of the runways.

Nhat is claimed is:

1. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate slidably mounted transversely of the runway for controlling the passage of .objects therealong, said gate having a T-shaped slot extending inwardly from the inner end thereof, a gravity locking pin slidably mounted in said slot and normally having interlocking engagement with said gate, said pin having opposed recesses formed in its lower portion, and means for raising the pin to register the recesses thereof with the slot of the gate.

2. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate slidably mounted transversely of the runway for controlling the passage of objects therealong, said gate having a T-shaped slot extending inwardly from the inner end thereof, a guide element supported by the rack and disposed below the slot of the gate when said gate is in its closed position, a gravity locking pin slidably mounted in the guide element and extending through the slot of the gate, said pin having opposed recesses formed in its lower portion, and means for raising the pin to register the recesses thereof with the slot of the gate.

3. In a g game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate slidably mounted transversely of the runway for controlling the passage of objects there along, said gate having a T-shaped slot extending inwardly from the inner endthereof, a gravity locking pin slidably mounted in said slot and normally having interlocking engagement with said gate, said pin having opposed. recesses formed in its lower portion, means for raising the pin to register the recesses thereof with the slot of the gate, and

. means for automatically returning the gate to its closed position.

a. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, a register, a gravity locking pin normally having interlocking engagement with the gate, means for raising the pin out of said interlocking engagement with said gate, a connection between the gate and the register for actuating the latter upon opening the former, and means for automatically in one end wall of returning said raising means to its initial position. V g

5. In a game register, the" combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, a register, a gravity locking pin normally having interlocking engagement with the gate, means for raising the pln out of said 1nterlock1ng, engagement with said gate, a rotary shaft disposed above the gate,

and a flexible connection between the pin and shaft for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft. V I Y 6. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a'runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of ob'ects along the runway, a register, a gravity locking pin normally having interlocking engagement with the gate, means for raising the pin out of said interlocking engagement with said gate, a rotary shaft disposed above the gate,

a flexible connection between the pin and shaft for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft, and automatic means for returning the shaft to its normal position. 7

7. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, a register, a gravity locking pin normally having interlocking engagement with the gate, means for raising the pin out of said interlo king engagement with said gate, a rotary shaft disposed above'the gate,

a'flexible connnection between the pin and shaft for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft, and automatic means for returning the shaft to its normal position, saidmeans consisting of a flexible connection having one end fixed to the shaftand a coil spring having one-end fixed to the rack and its other end connected to said connection.

8. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along said runway, means including a gravity locking pin for locking the gate in its closed position, a rotary shaft disposed above the gate, and a flexible connection between the pin and shaft for raising said pin and dis engaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft. 7 a

9. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along said runway, means including a gravity locking pin for locking thegate in its closed position, a gate, a flexible connection between the pin and shaft for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft, and automatic means for returning the shaft to its normal position.

rotary shaft disposed above they 10. In. a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along said runway, means including a gravity locking pin for locking the gate in its closed aosition a ro-tar shaft dis, osed above the l a y l gate, a flexible connection betweenthe pin and shaft for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft, means for locking the shaft against rotation when the pin is disengaged from the gate, and automatic means for re turning the shaft to its normal position upon release of said shaft locking means.

11. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, 'of a gate for cont-rolling the passage of objects along said runway, means including a gravity locking pin for locking the gate in its closed position, a rotary shaftJdisposed above the gate, a flexible connection between the pinv and shaft for raising said pin and d1sengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft, a hand wheel fixed on said shaft, and a locking element engageable with the wheel for holding the shaft againstrotation when the locking pin is disengaged from the gate. 7

12. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along said runway, means including a gravity locking pin for locking the gate in its closed position, a rotary shaft disposed above the gate, a flexible connection between the pin and shaft for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the ate upon rotation of said shaft, a hand vgheel fixed on said shaft and formed on its periphery with a recess, and a spring actuated plunger mounted on the rack and engageable in said recesses of the wheel for locking the sh aft against rotation when the locking pin is disengaged from the gate.

13. In a game registenthe combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along said runway, means including a gravity locking pin for locking the gate in its closed position, a rotary shaft disposed above the gate, a flexible connection between the pin and shaft. for raising said pin and disengaging the same from the gate upon rotation of said shaft, a hand wheel fixedon said shaft and formed on its periphery with a recess, a spring actuated plunger mounted on the rack and engageable in said recesses of the wheel for locking the shaft against rotation when the locking pin is disengaged from the gate, and automatic means for returning the shaft to its normal position.

14. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, a register, and means including open os'ition.

with a rack the runway,

carried by the an element carried by the gate for actuating the register when the gate is only in its l5. a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, a register, a push rod operati'vely connected to the register, and means carried by the gate for actuating said rod when the gate is onlyin its open position.

16. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, a register, a push rod operatively connected to the register, and means carried by the gate for actuating said rod when the gate is only in its open position, said means consisting of a rock shafta'nd a rocker arm extending from the shaft, the end of the arm being bent to form a foot adapted for engagement with the, rod upon rotation of said shaft.

1 In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects alongthe runway, means for locking the gate in its closed position, means for releasing said locking means, a register, and means includ- 111g an element carried by the gate for actuating the register when the gate is only in it's open position.

18. In a game register, the combination including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along means for locking the gate in its closed position, means for releasing said locking means, a register, a push rod operatively connected to the register, and means gate for actuating said rod when the gate is only in its open position.

19. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a runway, of a gate for controlling the passage of objects along the runway, means for locking the gate in its closed position, means for releasing said locking means, a register, a push rod operatively connected to the register, and means carried by the gate for actuating said rod when the gate is only in its open position, said means consisting of a rock shaft and a rocker arm extending from the shaft, the end of the arm being bent to form a foot adapted for engagement with the rod upon rotation of said shaft.

20. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a plurality of runways, of gates for respectively controlling the passage of objects through said runways, means for locking the gates in their closed positions, and means for progressively releasing said locking means.

21. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a plurality of runways, of gates for respectively controlling the passage of objects through said runways, means for locking thegates in their closed positions, means including an act-ufor progressively raising said pins and disengaging the same from the gates upon rotation of said shaft. v I

'23 In a ame TG 'IStGI the combination 2": b J l with a rack including a plurality of run- Copies of this patent may be o btained for ways, of gates for respectively controlling the passage of objects through said runways, a plurality of gravity locking pins for respectively locking the gates in their closed positions, a rotary shaft disposed 7 above the gates, a plurality of flexible connections between the pins andthe shaft for progressively raising said pins and -disengaging the same from the'gates upon rotation of said shaft, and means for locking said shaft against rotation when the pins are progressively disengaged from their respective gates.

24:. In a game register, the combination with a rack including a plurality "of runways, of gates for respectively controlling the passage of objects through saidrunways, a plurality of gravity locking pins I for respectively locking the gates'in their closed positions, a rotary shaft disposed above the gates, a plurality of flexible connections between the pins and thefshaft for progressively raising said pins and disen-. gaging the same from the gates upon rotation of said'shaft, a hand wheel fixed on said shaft, and a locking element engageable with the wheel for holding the shaft against rotation when the locking pins are progres slvely arranged out of engagement w th their respective gates.

25. In a game'reglster, the comb nation jwitha rack includinga plurality of runways, ofgates for respectively controlling the passage of objects through said runways, a plurality of gravity locking pins for respectivelylocking the gates in their closed positionsya rotary shaft disposed above the gates, aplurality offlexible connections-between the, pins and the shaft for progressively ra1sing 'said pins and disen gaging the same from the gates upon rotation of saidshaft, a hand wheel fixed on said shaft and formed on its periphery with a plurality of recesses, and a spring actugressiyely disengaged from the gate upon l ated plunger mounted'on the rack and adapted to progressively engage in said recesses of the wheel when the pins are prorotation of said shaft.

V In testimony whereofiwe afliX our signatures in presence of two witnesses;

"DAVID L. MARTIN.

EDGAR L. FLOVVERSL WVitnesses i I P, .P. JONES,

C. MQSER. V V

five cents: each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents, 4 Washington, D. C." I V v l 

